WORD OF THE WEEK - RELATIONSHIP - 10/27/24

Definition: the way in which people, groups, or countries behave toward each other or deal with each other

Scriptures:  1 John 4:20 “If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
Matthew 22:37-40Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”

Website:  www.wow-newton.com

Website: www.wow-newton.com
Email:  osnewton@wow-newton.com

Transcript

Definition: the way in which people, groups, or countries behave toward each other or deal with each other

Scriptures:  1 John 4:20 “If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”Matthew 22:37-40Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”
THOUGHT
God created humanity for the purpose of relationship.  In the beginning God defined this relationship by walking and talking with Adam in the cool of the day.  Man was created to have dominion over the earth and its creatures.  God created Eve as a companion for Adam to have a relationship with Adam, to keep him company and to assist him in accomplishing his assignment.  Before their expulsion from Eden, God had provided everything that Adam and Eve needed to survive in the garden.
After eating from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Adam, Eve and their offspring developed traits that were less God-oriented and more self-centered.  This exposure to the fruit of the tree caused humanity’s nature to shift from love, which was good, to a nature lacking in love, which was evil.  In this state, humanity became cynical towards God.  Adam and Eve tried to hide their newly exposed nature of deceit, recklessness, distrust, greed, dishonesty, jealousy and anger from God.
This was the first time that humanity became aware of qualities that can build or destroy relationships.  Positive qualities that include honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, dependability, kindness and generosity build and sustain relationships based on love and care for one another.  Those who consistently exhibit these traits are easy to relate to, and form relationships with to create loving communities as intended by God.
Humanity’s broken relationship with their creator had destroyed the possibility of continuing a peaceful co-existence with one another.
In the garden, when Adam first saw his wo-man, he naturally understood their relationship.  He was excitedly in awe of her.  However, outside the garden, it is not difficult to imagine the relationship struggles that may have ensued.  Adam, who had never worked a day in his life, now had to work to not only provide food, shelter and clothing for himself, but for Eve while she was sorrowfully having children. Even their offspring, Cain and Abel fought. Cain became so jealous of Abel’s favor with God that Cain murdered him.
Exposure to evil continues to deprive humanity of the blessings of peace.  Relationships are hard because humanity has allowed the negative traits of evil to prevail. For example, when choosing a mate or a friend, instead of looking for the positive traits of integrity, honesty and care for others, we often choose based on appearance, achievements or popularity.  When the relationship falters because they keep secrets, only care about their appearance, and overspend to “keep up with the Joneses”, we do not stop to consider that we chose them because they met our self-centered desires.
Despite declaring how much we love God, we accept the normalcy of a less than loving relationship in marriage, between siblings, with parents and children, among neighbors and even nations. How can we have a positive relationship with God, whom we have never seen, if we cannot stand our spouse, with whom we share and maintain a family and household?  We say we love God, yet we refuse to consider relationships with those that we dislike, dishonor and disrespect due to politics, color, culture or what we imagine them to be.
Do you want to have a positive relationship with God?  
Show love to me and to others. I guarantee, God will love you for it.